Aug 13, 2013

New Jersey Farm and Garden Center Set to CloseSource: Abbott Koloff for The Record

Members of the D'Ercole family have decided to sell D'Ercole Farms and Garden Center, a family business for the last 72 years in Norwood, N.J.

Members of the D’Ercole family have decided to sell D’Ercole Farms and Garden Center, a family business for the last 72 years in Norwood, N.J., reports Abbott Koloff for The Record. The sale would make room for a new townhouse complex.

Francesco D’Ercole opened the business in 1941, and three of his sons currently own the farm and garden center, which has seen decreasing sales in the past two years.

The sons plan to sell 4 ½ acres of land to a developer, Stonebridge Manor LLC, that plans to build 43 townhouses in an area zoned for single family residences.

The Norwood Zoning Board of Adjustment must decide whether to allow townhouses, although it seems like many neighbors are not opposed to the idea. Gus D’Ercole, one of the sons who owns the business, told the paper that approximately 100 family members live in the area surrounding the farm and garden center.

Joe D’Ercole, another co-owner, says he was outvoted 2-1 and would have rather tried to change the way they did things than close down. Some of his ideas included adding new products, such as pies and produce, as well as new services.

A representative from DErcole Farms and Garden Center posted on its Facebook page that they “hope to find a new location and continue [their] longstanding relationship.